Elizabeth of the Trinity's father was an officer in the French army, so it is no surprise that Elizabeth was born in a military camp and her closest friends were the children of officer families. The officer's wife, George Hallo, was called "second mother" by Elizabeth. To their son Karl, her childhood friend, Elizabeth dictated her last letter shortly before her death (in 1906):
“Dear brother,
before your Elizabeth rises to heaven, she would like to remind you once again of all her affection and her commitment to help you day by day until we meet again in heaven. My dear Karl, I want you to walk in your father's footsteps, with that strong faith which is part of a man's character and makes him honest and persistent. You will have to go through battles, my brother, you will encounter obstacles on the path of life, but do not lose courage. Call upon me for help, yes, call upon your little sister for help. This will increase the happiness of her heaven. She will be so happy to help you win and remain worthy of God, your venerable father, and mother, of whom you are surely a joy. I have no more strength to dictate this last will of your sister filled to the brim with love. When I am with God, be still in prayer. We will meet again and be happy forever. I leave you a medal from my rosary, wear it as a memory of your Elizabeth, who will love you in heaven even more than on earth.”
Karl followed in his father's footsteps at least professionally. He joined the army, enlisted in the air force, participated in the air battles of World War I in 1914, and was shot down. Even in uniform, he always carried this last letter from Elizabeth with him and attributed his survival – as he emerged unscathed and did not die until 1969 – to Elizabeth: “... call upon your little sister for help...”
Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity, intercede for us!
(Elizabeth of the Trinity /1880–1906/, correspondence, DP 287;
processed according to the website of the Dijon Carmel)
